Philippines Launches Inter-Agency Committee on International Humanitarian Law
TAGAYTAY CITY 12 February 2025 – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), together with close to 50 participants from 14 member agencies and 11 partner and civil society organizations, officially launched the Inter-Agency Committee on International Humanitarian Law (IAC-IHL) on 06-07 February 2025 in Tagaytay City, ushering in a more cohesive and sustainable approach to upholding IHL in the Philippines.
Emanating from a presidential directive, the signing of Executive Order No. 77 (s. 2024) on 22 November 2024 by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, which created the new body, fulfills a pledge by the Philippines during the 33rd International Conference of Red Cross and Red Crescent held in 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland – positioning the country among only three ASEAN nations to establish a permanent national committee on IHL.
The forum facilitated the comprehensive assessment of the Implementing Guidelines of EO No. 77, to ensure the smooth transformation of the IAC-IHL from an ad hoc body into a permanent committee with an expanded operational mandate, taking place eleven (11) weeks from the signing of EO No. 77.
In her keynote message, Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa Almojuela of the Office of United Nations and International Organizations (DFA-UNIO), the lead office in the DFA overseeing IHL promotion and compliance, underscored that “EO 77 is far more than an administrative achievement – it is a testament to the Philippines’ steadfast commitment to upholding the principles of IHL and a culmination of years of dedicated effort, collaboration, and advocacy.”
The event enabled participants to exchange insights on emerging trends in IHL and to strategically plan future initiatives that will ensure greater alignment and coordination amongst agencies on priority initiatives for 2025.
With the refinement of the Guidelines and synergized plans in place, the IAC-IHL is well-positioned to advance its mandate as the national body for IHL promotion and compliance, reinforcing the Philippines’ status as a leader in humanitarian law adherence and advocacy.
Executive Order No. 77 complements various Philippine laws that comply with IHL, including Republic Act (RA) No. 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against IHL, Genocide, and Crimes Against Humanity, and aligns with the Philippines as a State Party to the 1949 Geneva Conventions and its Additional Protocols. END